Adjustable holder for cut flowers



Feb 7, 1959 l. R. TINGLEY 2,496,753

ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR CUT FLOWERS Filed Aug 15, 1947 FIG. 2. ,9 a

a Z 5 7 V 5 1/ fi 3 l8? ,6 Q

2/ FIG. 3; I

1 \i l l3 {2 \i \J 5 'KJ INVENTOR. 3 Am R. ruvs4 5 yflmammwm ATTORNE Y5.

through the apertures 2.

Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR CUT FLOWERS Iva R. Tingley, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Application August 15, 1947, Serial No. 768,819

1 My invention relates to adjustable holders for cut flowers of the type commonly known as frogs, and is designed to hold the stems of flowers in a fixed position within a vase or bowl, the principal object of the invention being to add to this type of device a wide variety of possible arrangements, thus permitting greater latitude to the artistic ability of the person displaying the flowers.

Another object is to construct the several parts of my device with means for locking the pieces one to the other to insure their remaining in position should the Vase or bowl in which they are 'placed be moved.

A further object is to provide means for elevating short-stemmed flowers so that they will not be concealed by longer-stemmed flowers displayed in the arrangement.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel features herein-after described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my adjustable flower holder.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device partly in section, with the parts assembled as in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the holder partly in section, with the central pieces moved into one of the many possible arrangements thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, I indicates the outer member of my adjustable holder, which is here illustrated as circular, as seen in plan view, but it will be understood that the device may be made in a variety of shapes to fit vases or other vessels of varying design. Since, however,most

vases, bowls and the like are circular in transverse contour, I have elected to describe my holder as being of similar design.

A series of vertical apertures 2, extending through the member I, are of suitable diameter to receive and support the stems of flowers of diverse varieties. On the under side of the memher i are formed projections 3 which act as feet to support the member above the bottom of the vase, thereby permitting the water to circulate A central Opening 4 is formed within the member I and will preferably follow the contour of the periphery of the said member. At diametrically oppositesides of the opening 4, recesses 6 are formed in the 'memher i and extend vertically for the entire thickness of the said member. At points midway between the recesses 6 are oppositely-disposed recesses i formed in the member I. The recesses "I are exactly similar to the recesses 6, except that 8 Claims. (01. 47-41) 2 they extend downwardly from the upper surface of the member I for only about one-quarter or less of the thickness of said member.

A member 8, having its outer periphery shaped to conform to the opening 4, and of slightly less diameter than the opening, is designed to be placed within the said opening, as seen in Figs ures 1- and 2. The member 8 will be equal in thickness to the member I and will have formed on its under surface projections 9 similar to the projections 3 and for a like purpose. A series of vertical apertures I I to receive and support flower stems are formed in the member 8 and extend vertically therethrough. A central opening I2 formed in the member 8 will be similar in contour to the periphery of said member and vertical recesses I3 extend into the member at diametrically opposite sides of said opening. The recesses I3 will run vertically for the entire thickness of member 8. At points midway between recesses I 3 are similar, oppositely-disposed recesses I4 which extend downwardly from the upper surface of member 8 the same distance that the recesses 6 in member I extend through that member. At opposite sides of the member 8 are outwardly-extending vertical lugs or ribs I6, proportioned to fit within the recesses 6 and I in the member I.

A member I8 equal in thickness to members I and 8 and having the usual stem apertures I9 therein is designed to fit within the opening l2 in the member 8. Vertical lugs or ribs 2I extend outwardly from opposite sides of member I8 and are proportioned to fit within the recesses I3 and I l of member 8. Foot members .22 on the under side of member It will space said member above the bottom of the container. It will be understood that all of the dimensions of the interfitting parts above described will be such as to fit the parts neatly together and at the same time leave sufiicient clearance between the surfaces to permit easy disassembling.

The parts of my flower holder will be made of glass, glazed pottery, or other suitable material of sufficient weight to support the flowers placed therein against tipping.

In employing my device, the parts may be as-- sembled as shown in Figures 1 and 2, nesting one within the other, the vertical ribs I6 and 2| fitting within the recesses Band I3, respectively. The upper surfaces of all of the members are now in the same horizontal plane, and the holder is now adapted for displaying flowers which have stems of substantially the same length, or those with comparatively longer stems may be placed in the center member and short-stemmed flowers arranged around them in the intermediate and outer members. When it is desired to use a variety of flowers of comparatively shorter stems for the central part of the display and surround them with longer-stemmed varieties, the member 18 may be lifted from the opening l2 and rotated to place the ribs 2| in the recesses M. The member l8 willinow befisuperimposed with respect to the member 8, as shown in Figure 3. It is. also possible to likewise position the member 8 with relation to the member I by disengaging the ribs I6 from the recesses 6 and placing them in the recesses I.

From the foregoing, it will be, seen that a,

variety of arrangements of the parts of mydevice may be made, thus permitting a'wide. range of floral designs.

Having described my invention, what I'claim 1s:

1. An adjustable holder for out flower "stems comprising a first member formed with a central opening having relatively deep recesses formed in-its sidewalls extending-for a substantial vertical distance therein, and relatively shallow .re- "cesses in its sidewalls between saiddeep recesses, said recesses opening through the top of said first member, and a second member shaped to seat within said central opening of said first member having laterally outwardly projecting lugsxengageable in saidfdeep recesses to support said second.memberrnomrotatably in a relatively depressed: position with respect to said first memberand :engageable in said shallow recesses to support "said second member non-rotatably in-a relatively elevated position with respect to said firstlmember.

2., An adjustable holder for out .fiower stems comprisingaa first member formed with a central opening having relatively deep recesses formed in itssidewallsextending .for a substantial vertical distance therein, and,relativelyshallowrecesses". in its sidewalls between said deep :recesses, said recesses opening through the top ofsaid first member, and a second membershaped to. seat within;- said' central opening of; said first member shaving laterally outwardly projecting lugs engageable in said deep recesses to support said secon'dmember non-rotatably in a relativelydepressed position-with respect tosaid firstmemher and engageable. in said shallowrecesses to support said-second member non-rotatably in ,a relatively elevated position with. respect to said rfirst:member,-said-second member being formed "with a central opening formed with similarly relatively deep and relatively shallow recesses in its sidewalls,=and.a third membershaped to-seat Within the central'opening of said second mem- :ber :having laterally -projecting lugs optionally .engageable with said deep and said shallow recessesto support said third memberin depressed and elevated positions, respectively, relative to said second member.

-3;.An adjustable holder for out flower stems fcomprisingpafirst member formed with a central opening having relatively deep recesses formed in its sidewalls extending for asubstantial vertical -;distance therein, and relatively shallow recesses in its sidewalls between said .deepzrecesses, ;said recesses opening through the .top of said TfiISS member, and a second member shaped'to ,seat within said central opening of said first ,member having laterally outwardly projecting :lugs engageable insaid deep recesses tosupport ly depressed position with respect to said first member and engageable in said shallow recesses to support said second member non-rotatably in a relatively elevated position with respect to said first member, said first member being arranged to rest upon a supporting surface, the central opening of said first member and its deep recesses extending through the top and bottom of said first member whereby saidsecond member rests upon the.;supporting surface while 'its lugs are engaged with'the deep recesses of said first memher.

4. An adjustable holder for out flower stems comprising-a'first'member formed with a central opening having relatively deep recesses formed 'inits'sidewalls extending for a substantial vertical distance therein,- and relatively shallow recesses in its sidewalls between said deep recesses, said recesses opening through the top of said first member, and a second member shaped to seat withinzsaid central opening-0f said first member having laterally outwardly projecting lugs engageablepin said deep recesses to support said second member non-rotatably in ,a: relatively de- :pressed position-with respect: to. said first member and engageable in said shallow recesses to supportsaidysecond member non-rotatably in a ,relativelyelevated position with respect tosa-id first member, said first member being arranged to rest upon a supporting surface, the central opening, of said first member andits deep recesses extendingjthrough'the top and bottom of said first member whereby said secondmember rests upon the supporting surface while its lugs are engaged with the deep recesses of said first member, said shallow-recesses having-bottom surfaces spaced upwardly from the bottom of said first member upon which the-lugsof said second member rest when:- engaged with said shallow recesses.

5, An adjustable holder for out flower stems comprisingtaifirst member formed with a central opening having relatively deep recesses formed -mitsasidewalls,extending for asubstantial vertical distance therein, and relatively shallow recesses iinits sidewalls-between said deep recesses, said recesses opening through the top of said first member, and a. second member shaped to seat within saidrcentral opening of said first member having laterally outwardly projecting lugs engageable :in said deep recesses to support said secondlmember nonerotatably in ,a, relatively depressed position with respect to saidfirst member and-engageablein; said shallow recesses to supportsaid .secondimember .nonerotatably in a .relativelyelevated position :withrespect to said first member;- said first member being arranged to rest .upona supporting surf ace,:the central opening of said first member and its deep-recesses extending through the-topandbottomof said first member whereby said second member rests upon the sup- :portingsurface while its lugs are engaged with .thedeep recesses of said first member, said first --memberhavingdepending feet'for engaging the .supportingmurfacefand supporting the bottom of .said first member above said supporting surface.

6..An..adjustable holder for out flower stems comprising a first member formed'with a central ,opening'having relatively deep recesses formed in :itsrsidewalls extending for a substantial vertical .distance :therein,, and relatively shallow. recesses ,in .its sidewalls :between saiddeep recesses, said irecesses' opening through the top of said first .membenandrarsecondmember shaped to seat within. said ."central opening of said. first member :saidysecorrd. member non-.rotatably in;a-. relative-- 775 having-la e lly nu w dlx. 91 i Bfiting lugsenga able in said deep recesses to support said second member non-rotatably in a relatively depressed position with respect to said first member and engageable in said shallow recesses to support said second member non-rotatably in a relatively elevated position with respect to said first member, said deep recesses being diametrically opposed and said shallow recesses being positioned in laterally spaced relation to said deep recesses.

7. An adjustable holder for out fiower stems comprising a first member formed with a central opening having relatively deep recesses formed in its sidewalls extending for a substantial vertical distance therein, and relatively shallow recesses in its sidewalls between said deep recesses, said recesses opening through the top of said first member, and a second member shaped to seat within said central opening of said first member having laterally outwardly projecting lugs engageable in said deep recesses to support said second member non-rotatably in a relatively depressed position with respect to said first member and engageable in said shallow recesses to support said second member non-rotatably in a relatively elevated position with respect to said first member, said first member being arranged to rest upon a supporting surface, the

central opening of said first member and its deep recesses extending through the top and bottom of said first member whereby said second member rests upon the supporting surface while its lugs are engaged with the deep recesses of said first member, said first and second members comprising relatively flat plates of substantially similar thickness.

8. An adjustable holder for cut flower stems comprising a first member formed with a central opening having relatively deep recesses formed in its sidewalls extending for a substantial vertical distance therein, shallow recesses in its sidewalls between said deep recesses, said recesses opening through the top of said first member, and a second member shaped to seat within said central opening of said first member having laterally outwardly projecting lugs engageable in said deep recesses to support said second member non-rotatably in a relatively depressed position with respect to said first member and engageable in said shallow recesses to support said second member non-rotatably in a relatively elevated position with respect to said first member, said first member being arranged to rest upon a supporting surface, the central opening of said first member and its deep recesses extending through the top and bottom of said first member whereby said second member rests upon the supporting surface While its lugs are engaged with the deep recesses of said first member, said first and second members comprising relatively fiat plates of substantially similar thickness, the central opening of said first member being circular and said second member being substantially circular and of a diameter to conformably seat in said circular opening.

IVA R. TINGLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 440,141 Dearborn Nov. 11, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 362,737 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1931 and relatively. 

